Reenforcement for buttonholes



June 2, 1925.

E. A. B. BURT REENFORCEMENT FOR BUTTONHOLES Filed Sept. 18, 1922 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented June 2, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDlITI-I A. B. BURT, F SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

REENEORCEMENT FOR nu'r'ronrronns.

Application filed September 18, 1922. Serial No. 588,938. i

ments for Buttonholes, of which the followand ing is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in reenforcements for button holes, eyelets, and the like.

An object of the invention is to provide a reenforcement which is sufficiently rigid to properly strengthen the button hole or eyelet and which is also capable of yielding to conform to the shape of the shank of the button or hook that may be inserted in the reenforced button hole.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a reenforcement which is simple in construction and that is capable of being economically manufactured and which is also capable of being readily and easily attached tothe button hole.

\Vith the above objects in view, my in vention will be described with particular reference to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of my improved re enforcement Fig. 2 is a plan view showing one manner of securing the reenforcement to a piece of fabric;

Figs. 3 and tare front and side eleva-' tional views respectively, showing a hook inserted within the reenforced button hole;

Fig. 5 is a View showing a modified form of reenforcement.

In the practice of my invention I preferably provide a reenforcement that comprises a material such as wire or the. like that is bent or formed into the shape of a closed loop. The ends 2 and 3 of the band are preferably overlapped and unjoined as in Fig. 1 to permit a relative movement of the ends when the band is distorted as will later appear.

While I have shown the band formed in the shape of circular loop it is apparent that the reenforcement may be formed in the shape of an oval or rectangular loop or other shape depending upon the style or shape of button hole or eyelet that it may be desired to reenforce and I therefore do not limit myself to the form shown.

BURT,

One method of securing the reenforcement to a fabric is shownin Fig. 2in which figure f represents a piece of fabric provided with abutton hole or eyelet 0 The reenforcement is placed to encircle the opening 0 and maybe secured therearound .by

button hole or over-stitching as indicated by s. The method or means of securing the reenforcement to the fabric forms no part of the present invention, the method shown being merely for the purpose of dis closing the invention in its present preferred form.

It will be observed that when the reenforcement is secured to the fabric around the button hole that the button hole is rigidly reenforced around its entire edge and that the button hole and its reenforcement may be distorted to an elongated shape and that such distortion by reason of the overlapped unjoined ends of the reenforcement permits the button hole and reenforcement to yield to an appreciable extent since the overlapped ends of the reinforcement are permitted to move relative one to the other.

For the purposes of illustrating the action of my reenforcement when under: strain reference may be had to Fig. 3 in which figure a fabric 4: is shown that carries a button or hook member 5. A fabric 6 is shown that is provided with a button hole or eyelet 7 to which is applied my reenforcement 1. As will be observed the fabrics are shown as being under a strain in 0pposite directions which straining actions causes the shank of the hook 5 to distort or elongate the button hole without impairing the functioning of the reenforcement since the ends thereof are arranged for a relative sliding movement.

The amount of overlap of the reenforcement band ends may be varied as is desired and is more or less dependent upon the use for which the band is to be used. That is to say, the overlap is in accordance with the degree of distortion to which the reenforced button hole is to be subjected.

Where the reenforcement is not to be subjected to any appreciable distortion the form shown in' Fig. 5 I have found to be of con siderable advantage. In this form the re enforcement comprises a circular ring of yieldable material that may be secured to fabric in a manner similar to that shown in Fig. 2.1 This band 8 when secured to the fabric is yieldable within reasonable limits and may easily be distorted without impairing its usefulness as a reentorcement. j

\Vhile I have shown the reent'orcements in the forms as at present preterred it is obvious that many changes-may be made in their construction Without departing from the scope of my invention and therefore prefer to be limited bythei appended claims rather than by the foregoing description.

I claim: a a

.1; A reenforceinent "for buttonholes comprising, ajmemberformed into the shape of a loop having nnjoined end portions, the said end portions being arranged in an overlapping relation and formed to coincide with the contour of the loop, whereby they are adapted for a relative sliding movement to allow an expansion of the loop with the end portions in their overlapping relation. 7 A re'entorceinent for button-holes comprising a metal member formed in the shape of a circular loop, the ends of the said member be ngarranged in an overlapping unjoined contiguous relation and terminating at their overlapping portion and arranged for a relative movement whereby the said loop --may expand when nn'derstrain. V

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature. i

EDITH' A. B. BURT. 

